Taiwan edged out Cuba 3-2 for first place in the inaugural under-12 Baseball World Championship July 17 at Tianmu Stadium, Taipei, according to the International Baseball Federation (IBAF).
Taiwan scored first in the top of the second inning when Yeh Chao-yu doubled to drive in one run. But Cuba’s Miguel Vargas soon evened things up by belting a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.
After two outs in the third inning Taiwan put runners on first and third. Wan Chao-ching then blasted a fly ball over the Cuban right fielder to reach third and bring them home for what proved to be the decisive runs. Although Mailon Alonso singled to drive in another run in the bottom of the sixth, Cuba’s attempted comeback came to an end when pinch hitter Yerandy Hernandez grounded out.
Chinese Taipei pitcher Tseng Wei-en threw a complete game, with 88 pitches, giving up two runs on five hits in six innings, according to the IBAF. Tseng was named best right-handed pitcher and most valuable player, while Wan was awarded outstanding defensive player.
Despite failure to grab the gold, the runner-up received seven individual awards, including most home runs for slugger Jose Matos, who swatted six homers in the tournament, and best left-handed pitcher for Adrian Morejon.
“I give our players a score of 100,” said Taiwan team coach Wu Ying-syh. Although Taiwan had lost to Cuba in the first round of play, the team gained confidence when Cuba used Morejon, its best pitcher, against Venezuela July 16. “We then prepared to keep the trophy at home,” Wu said.
Although heavy rain delayed the game for two hours, 9,235 spectators still packed into the stadium, according to organizer the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association.
“This victory is expected to rekindle the popularity of baseball in Taiwan,” CTBA Secretary-General Richard Lin said. “And we hope it will attract more Taiwanese children to the sport.”
Earlier in the day Venezuela took the bronze by beating Mexico 12-4, according to the IBAF.
In related news, the Jintan Elementary School team from Kaohsiung defeated a team from South Korea 3-1 to capture the Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament of Little League Baseball July 15 in Guam, earning a trip to the LLB World Series next month in Williamsport, Pa. (THN)
Write to Aaron Hsu at pj1210meister@mail.gio.gov.tw